Advertising or other air-ship.



PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

J. G. BURNELL. ADVERTISING OR OTHER AIR SHIP.

APPLICATION PI LED APR.26, 1906.

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- tunity to display -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;-

ADVERTISING O R OTHER AIR-SHIP.

To all whom, it nuty concern):

Be it known that '1, JOHN C. BURNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicage, in the nois, have'invehted certain new and useful I'mprovementsin Advertising or other Airwhich the following is a specificat1on.-

It has been customary for some time to dis play advertisements b y means of kites adapted to be sailed high above the ground, to the string or line of which the advertisement is attached. This method of hoisting the advertisement is obviously open to the objection that it is'only adapted for use on windy days and under circumstances which permit the kite to be raised without interference from buildings, telegraph poles, wires .or other obstructions. These objections render the use of kites for advertising purposes un satisfactory, and very frequently the opporan advertisement to the gaze of a large assemblage or crou d of people, as, for instance, at foot ball games, horse races, or similar exhibitions, is lost by reason of unfavorable weather conditions. Another disadvantage in the use-of kites lies in the fact that it is impossible toraise the kite from localities which are surrounded by buildings or otherwise sheltered from wind on the ground level.' a

The object of'the present invention is to overcome these objections and provide an air-ship or balloon adapted to be raised uncured thereto:

'inafter described and claimed der all sorts of weather conditions and from; localities which would render-the use ofkites I impossible or highly precarious.

The invention relates to the means for. securing the gas bag to the framework, to the construction of theframework itself, and to the means for. attaching a line. or cable in such manner that the balloon or air-ship will be held in horizontal position re ardless of the velocity of the Wind and of e pull or weight-of'the line and theadvertisement se- The invention consists the features of construction and combination of partshere- In the drawi s Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hal oon" showing. the preferred] ,form of framework.; .and;-Figs. 2 and 3am perspective viewsof modified forms of frame-- work, 'the balloon in Figs. 2 and 3 omitted.""

V The advertising air-ghip'pf ithr Specification of Letters Patent;

Application filed-April 26,1906. Serial No. 313,792.

county of. Cook andState of Illi."

- with under Patented May 21, 1907.

the forms of construction com rises a gas bag 1 which ispreferably of e ongated or cigar-shape, ,whi'ch gas bag 18 firmly securedto a framework of any one of the forms shown. The framework of Fig; 1 consists-0f" upper side rails 2 'which serveas-a means of attachment for a network of "ropes or cords 3 which practically inclose the upper halfofithe gas bag and eritend around and 'inclose the ends holding the balloon firmly secured to the framework. The framework further consists of lower side rails 4, end rails 5,; and crosi or brace rails 6 extending in diagonal relation between the side and end rails of the frame; 'The lower side rails on opposite sides of theframework are connected by means .of cross rails 7, Wl1l0h arrangement-forms a rectangular framework on three sides; having the ends and top open for the reception and retention of the gas bag which fits down into the open space 'within the framework, allowing the ends to project outwardly therefrom and allowing thetop framework. As shown in Fig. 1 the. upper side rails of the framework are placed in a po sition about midway of the total "ertifcal diai'neter of the gas bag; or, in other words,.at the point of reatest horizontal diameter. This arrangement enables the amework to be rigidly secured to the gas bag to the upper side rails.-

to rise upwardly from the by means of the mesh ropes or cords 3 which are secured The air-ship or balloon is secured to a inain line or cable 8 which terminates at its upper endin a pair of forward attaching .lines 9 which are fixedly secured to the forward ends of the upper side rails, but are held in suitable relation'to .the lower-side rails by means of loops 10 which distribute the pull ofthe-main line to different points as indicated. ad ditionto the forward attaching'lines 9, a center onbelly-band 11-is securedtothe main line 8, and the belly-band has its end forked to provide center attaching'lines 1 2fiivhieh are secured to the lower rails, as indicated in f The rearend of the frameworkcan Fi 1. be inani ulated by means of an adjust line 13 whic like the other lines, ishfdrkidiitits rear end 14, and the adjusting 19, nstead of being fixedly'secured to the main line, passes through a loop 15 thereon and is" carried downlalo the main line within reach of the operatorfifithough the loop maybe'dispensed carried down to the 1 ground and anchored separately.

some conditions and when line advertisement secured thereto.

In Fig. 2 is shown a modified style of frame, which, instead of being rectangular, is of V-shape formation, having upper side rails 16 adapted for the attachment of the mesh ropes, and the upper rails are connected with a single lower rail 17 by means of converging end rails 18 which are braced by transversely extending brace rails 19, leaving the upper portion of the framework open, as in Fig. 1, for the reception of the gas bag which is secured in "the manner hitherto described. The framework of Fig. 2 is secured in a manner to that hitherto described, except for such variations as are necessary in view of the slightly modified form of construction. forward attaching lines 20, which, as shown in Fig. 1, are secured to the upper rails, but in place of two lower loops 10 a single loop 21 is employed, which, however, is intended to serve the same function. The belly-band 11 instead of being forked at its end, is secured directly to the center of the lower rail, and the adjusting line 13, instead of being forked, is likewise directly secured.

In the construction shown in Fig 3, the framework is of rectangular form, consisting of side rails 22 and end rails 23., The main line 8 is forked at its end to provide forward attaching lines 24 which are secured directly to the frame, the attaching loops being dispensed with in this case. 'The belly-band l1 and the adjusting line 13 are exactly like those hitherto described with respect to Fig.

1. In use, when theweather is calm, the

balloon or air-ship will rise directly from the earth, carrying with it the line' having the The framework being secured to the main line at its forward end, the tendency of the air-ship or balloon will be to tilt up on end more or'less by reason of the buoyancy of the rear or unsecured end of the device. It is to correct this tendency that the adjusting line is provided which can be pulled by the operator to bring the gas bag into substantially horizontal position. This tendency of the gas bag to stand on end to a \greater or less degree 1s more apparent in a strong wind than in a calm and it is more especially'to correct the tendency to wabble about in a Wind that the main line is made fast to the forward end of the frame. If the line were fastened directly to the center of the frame, a strong wind would throw the device entirely out of the control of the operator and the wabbling and diving of the balloon or air-ship, due to the changes in velocity or direction of the currents of air, would tend to shake or wabble the advertising flag or banner, suspended by the main line, to such an extent as to render the advertisement displayed thereon unintelligible. By attaching the main line to the framework in the manner indicated, and by providing an adjustable rear end line, the tendency of the The main line 8 terminates in balloon to wabble is reduced to a'minimum and the operator is enabled to correct such tendency from time to time as may be necessary by reason of changes in the direction or force of the wind.

The framework of the device can be constructed of light wood or from wire, aluminium, or other suitable material, and it is; de sirable to employ a gas bag of sufficient size to make it aconspicuousobject andone which will be watched with interest by the public, for whose inspection the advertisement is displayed. In view of the fact that the flight of air-ships is of sufficiently rare occurrence to create interest, it is plain that the use of a device of the general shape and appearance of an air-ship will of itself create universal interest which serves tt attract the attention of the public to the air-ship itself and to the advertisement carried thereby. The use of kites for advertising purposes is unsatisfactory for the reason that kites are so familiar to the general public that no in terest is felt in \Vtlik'lilllf their flight in the air, whereas the reverse is true with respect to the device of the character herein described. The device of the present invention can be used atall times regardless of weather conditions, so that for advertising purposes it will be reliable and thoroughly satisfactory for the purposes intended.

Although the adjusting line has been de scribed as movable independently of the main line, it is not intended to be limited in this respect,'since it is possible, under certain conditions, after the lines have been properly 'wind and, by securing the lines substantially in the, manner indicated, the air-ship will be held in horizontal stationary position and the wabbling, diving or lateral movements reduced to a minimum.

The device has been described as an advertising air-ship, but it need not of necessity be used for this purpose since, if constructed of suitable size it may be employed for the purpose of raising passengers, for meteorological or other scientific purposes where a substantially stationary position in the upper air is required.

While in using devices of this general character for advertising purposes the advertisement is usuall arranged on a banner or fia attached to t e line, it will be understoo that in the'present case the advertisement could be painted upon the gas bag itself or secured to the framework or displayed in any gas bag having secured thereto at different points from front to rear a main line and an adjusting line, the lines being of suitable length to exert the requisite tension to hold and secure the air ship in substantially horizontal position head on to thewind regardless of changes in wind velocity, substantially as described.

3. An air shiphaving a main line secured thereto near one end, and having an adjusting line secured theretov near the opposite end for holding and controlling the position of the airicship regardless of wind velocity,

substantially as described.

4. x ii air-ship comprising a gas bag, "a

framework to which the gas bag is fixedly secured, a main line attached to the forward end of the framework, and'an adjusting line attached near the rear end of the framework for holding the gas bag in proper position, substantially as described.

5. Aif 7 air ship comprising a framework having side'rails, and a bottom rail rigidly secured to the side rails, an elongated gas bag secured to the frame between the side rails, and lines secured to the framework and adapted to hold, control and firmly position the air-ship regardless of changes in wind velocity, substantially as described.

6. An air ship comprising a framework having side rails, and a bottom rail rigidly secured to the side rails, an elongated gas bag secured to the frame between the side rails, a main line secured to the forward end of the framework, and an adjusting line secured to the rear end of the framework for holding, controlling and firmly positioning the air-ship regardless of changes in wind velocity, substantially as described.

7. An air-ship comprising a framework having side; rails, and a bottom rail rigidly secured to the side rails, an elongated gas bag 5o secured to the frame between the side rails, a main line forked at its upper end to provide attaching lines secured to the upper side rails, and heldin position with respect to the lower side rails by means of a restraining line, and an adjusting line secured near the rear end of the framework for holding, controlling and firmly positioning the air-ship, substantially as described.

8. An air ship for advertising purposes comprising a framework having upper and lower side rails, and cross rails connecting the lower side rails, the framework being open at its ends and top, an elongated gas bag projecting outwardly and upwardly from the framework and rigidly held between the side rails,'and lines secured to the framework and adapted to hold, control and firmly position the air-ship regardless of wind velocity, substantially as described.

JOHN C. BURNELL. Witnesses:

. WALKER BANNING,

PAULINE BEOKMAN. 

